Take Jerry Yang for example, the 2007 World Series of Poker Main Event champion. Anyone watching him and his family pray their way to an $8.25m dollar payday had to wonder if God has entered the competitive sports industry. Yang, an amateur, rode an unbelievably good run of cards to victory, winning head-to-head time and again, often turning over his winning card when it appeared all hope was lost – like his straight that won the final hand. As competitors fell and Yang’s stack of chips towered, the prayers of his Hmong family members echoed through the casino hall like Sunday morning at a Baptist church.

“Show ’em a miracle, show ’em your power Jesus. Show them…Ace!”

The Hmong southeast Asian ethnic group has been in the news recently for racially-based shootings between hunters in northern Wisconsin, btw. Google it yourself.

Yang shares his Christian faith with the Rockies, the first professional baseball team known to recruit within the faith. Ironically, my news search turned up nothing about Rockies and religion; however, the g.m. and coach are both born-again believers, and have specifically stocked their team with players of faith. They don’t talk about it or advertise, but Bible study is at 3:00, come prepared.

Anyone bending their mind on the incredible feats we’re witnessing can easily set aside the Christian connection as coincidence. The Rockies haven’t won it all. Yang wasn’t a chump and someone has to win. Yet, proof could be offered – a proof of sorts if we stretch the definition.

If the pattern holds, look out for one more miraculous winner – individual or team. Three is a magical number, a sign of the hand of Providence at work, according to numerology. Watch out for teams carrying the crosses, like Jon Kitna of the Detroit Lions. Maybe Oral Roberts will sweep into the Final Four. If God is speaking through our competitions and follows the old pattern, we can expect one more miraculous victory out of nowhere to surprise and titillate.

This advice could apply to a struggling team looking for an edge. Hear me, Ocho Cinco? If I had a million dollars to burn, I’d take whatever Vegas is offering and wager on the Rockies. You know the old saying: never bet against God.

1 Response

Does God care who wins? Do we think because one team professes a Christian base they will be favored? Swept is more like it by the secular Boston Red Socks. I have a feeling if God hears us at all in our trivial persuits he hears us when we call for the aid of our fellow men.. I am one of those believers in Christ that thinks most the people that followed him were distorting his message from day one. Much of it came through thank God but so many agendas were served with the power of Christ as a banner it was self motivation on many levels. Atruisem that Jesus asks for is very rare but we must struggle to attain it. The Rockies are like all men if they profess strickly Christian adherance then they weaken the faith, not strengthen it. Because when we prove Gods love on a personal level to those that are not followers of christ we are doing Gods work.Resricting our membership is against Gods will to see his love spread, we need to reach out not become exclusive that way is proven false. Robert